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The Roses

13 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Onisha

Some of you might think the idea of allowing a legally blind man who also has early Alzheimer’s to give you driving directions might be a bad idea, and you would be right but last Thursday it turned out to be a wonderful.

My aunt had to have surgery and we were staying with my uncle Paul who is my mother’s brother. The day after her surgery, Paul insisted that on the way to the hospital we stop at the town florist to get a nice bouquet of flowers.  This sounds simple but we had no idea where the florist was located. “Can you tell us how to get there?” we asked.  “Sure I can” he replied, so taking him at his word we set out.

We knew how to get to the hospital but once we turned off the main highway we had no idea where we were. Sitting in the back seat I sent up a quick prayer. “Lord, we are taking directions from an almost blind man whose mind isn’t always clear. This doesn’t seem real smart but he really wants to do this so I am trusting you.”

As my husband drove I searched the sides of the street for florist signs. Every time I saw one, I asked, “is that it uncle Paul? “I was so sure he wouldn’t be able to see it but every time he said no, that’s not it. Finally he spied the florist and gave my husband directions how to get to it. Uncle Paul was very tired and out of breath that morning and it was quite an ordeal for him to get out of the car and into the store. As we slowly walked in, a sweet sales lady approached us and mouthed, “Is that Mr H?”  “It is “I replied. She gave me an understanding smile and explained to my uncle that she was a friend of his son. When my uncle explained that he wanted some nice flowers for his wife who was in the hospital, she led him to the cooler and told him if he didn’t see anything he liked she would make something for him right then. Uncle couldn’t really see the flowers so he chose roses.

Making it to the florist and being treated with such kindness would have made it a great morning but God is into abundance. Leaving the florist parking lot uncle Paul instructed my husband to not go back the way we came but to go on through town. Well, Lord, I thought we made it to the florist, I guess we will make it to the hospital. We hadn’t gone a mile when uncle Paul told Mike to turn and Mike missed it. We began looking for a place to turn around then uncle Paul said just keep going straight, we can make this work. We were driving through the countryside when he casually pointed to the right and said that is one of the places papa farmed. Swiveling my head to look, I asked “did he farm it when you lived at home?” Yes, he said, “all we young’uns worked the farm.”

My parents were raised in North Carolina but I was raised in Florida. When I was a child they had driven me around the small farming community where my mother grew up, but being a child I just didn’t pay that much attention. Since she died, I had a hungering in my heart to revisit those places. The farms were mostly gone, replaced with housing developments but my imagination could picture her there, running through fields barefoot and up to mischief.

We made it to the hospital with no problem and my uncle proudly carried the vase of roses on his lap and we wheeled him into the hospital room. He had no idea; God had used him to deliver one of my heart’s desires.

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An Unexpected Gift

27 Mar

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Onisha

Recently we went to Anderson, South Carolina to spend some time with friends and attend the Anderson Senior Follies.  It was held at Anderson University and the proceeds provide a scholarship. We were especially excited to attend since one of our friends was performing.

As the name implies, all of the performers were “seniors” with an age range of fifty-five to ninety-two. This year’s theme was Hometown Heroes. According to the newspaper style playbill, a hero is someone you know. The opening scene included the entire eighty-person cast all costumed to portray the most obvious heroes down to the least obvious such as secretaries, maids and miners.

group

Once the opening number was completed the performers stepped out quickly and I do mean quickly with old favorites such as Baby Face, Bugle Boy of Company B and Run Around Sue to name a few. There were corny jokes, patriotic pieces and some songs just for the joy of laughing.

My husband and I laughed the whole show, one time I even snorted. We were in awe at the way those old folks could move. There was rhythm galore and plenty of flirty looks from the ladies but my favorite was a tap dance performed by some of the more elder ladies of the cast. Not only did they move, near the end of the number the men they had been dancing around suddenly ripped off the ladies skirts! While the music continued I watched anxiously as the ninety-year-old dancer bent down to pick up her skirt then struggled to put it back on.  I didn’t think she would be able to manage it but she sure did, right on cue.

After the show I was marveling at the rhythm and free spirit some of the women demonstrated. I wondered if they had always been that way or had they experienced an unexpected gift of age, the freedom to just go for it.

Merl Follies

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Sprinkles

14 Mar

I’m pretty sure God knew about the internet way before Al Gore invented it. I can imagine him smiling all those years ago when I grumbled about everything taking soooo long. “If words can be heard through a telephone line then why can’t a piece of paper somehow be scanned and sent along those same lines” I would ask. Abra-ca-dabra the fax machine was born. Then I wanted a computer that could actually sort data and give me answers to my multitude of questions , I wanted, no I NEEDED instant communication at all times and she-bang  personal computers,the internet  and smart phones became everyday items.

Just like God knew about my irrational need for instant communication he also knew of all the blessings he had placed in my life long before I even knew I needed them. He sprinkled my life with people who would become dear friends, mentors and helpers. It seems that whenever I have a need, God has already sprinkled someone in my life fill it. His latest provision was a quick thinking friend with a rice strainer!

There is a lovely passage in I Corinthians 12: 12-26 where Paul speaks of the different parts of the body and how each part is equally valued.  I think it is that way with the people in one’s life and even my place in other’s lives. Sometimes I might be a helping hand and another time a lowly toe. Both are necessary  and important, neither more grand than the other.

All of this chatter to get around to say forty years ago God sprinkled a talented woman into my life. Louise Gibson is the mother of my best friend from high school days and now, hopefully, she is going to fill a need on this blog. She will be posting on Fridays and the title will be “From the heart of Louise Gibson”

 

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Trade-Off

7 Mar

I think I may have discovered a hidden treasure. While visiting with a friend’s mom we began discussing books and this lead to writing which led to the discovery that she has been writing for years. Of course I pounced at the chance to have her as a guest on our blog. So today I am sharing with you  Louise Gibson, a friend and poet who has a delightful sense of humor Onisha

 

 

 

Trade Off

 

Pigeons are not on my list of favorite creatures

 

They destroy my peace of mind.

 

The feeder in my yard was dwarfed

 

By pigeons of every kind.

 

 

They came each day and flapped their wings

 

As they fought for a position.

 

The feeder was too small, you see,

 

Which affected their disposition.

 

 

 

My patio used to be a place

 

Of quietness and contentment

 

Until the pigeons came in droves

 

And filled me with resentment.

 

 

 

“Lord” I cried, “I need your help

 

I cannot stand their spats.”

 

The Lord obliged, to my chagrin

 

And sent instead eight cats.

 

 

 

No squirrels, no birds, they fled in fear-

 

The cats you see, do domineer.

 

Now you find no pigeons on Chipola

 

God sent them all to Lake Eola!

 

 

 

English: A flock of domestic Rock Pigeons (Col...

Downtown Orlando at Sunrise

Downtown Orlando at Sunrise (Photo credit: camflan)

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Plans Are Just Plans

28 Feb

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Onisha

I learned last year that my plans are not always God’s plans and for 2013 I am offering up my plans and timetables to God. It is already getting interesting trying to schedule our lives in two places.

For Christmas my husband made me a wonderful cold frame for starting seeds and the warm Florida weather has me eager to get started on our summer garden in North Carolina.  Our plan was to start our plants in the cold frame six weeks before planting time. Now it seems that isn’t going to work out and that’s ok. Plans are just plans. I don’t want to miss out on a single blessing by insisting on living life my way.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Company’s Coming

14 Feb

 On the Porch

 

 

 

Onisha Ellis

 

 

 

Onisha

 

 

 

I popped in at our local Aldi this week to pick up a few items and was stopped in an aisle by a cascade of facial cream rolling across the floor. As I reached down to grab some of items, an older woman flashed a grin and pointed to the shopper who had caused the incident “She’s from out of town” I laughed then said “she must be very excited to be in Florida right now”.

 

 

 

It reminded me of the latter years of my parents’ lives, when February meant family from North Carolina and Massachusetts coming to visit. It meant lots of great food as the women shared the kitchen cooking Sunday Dinner quality meals every night. It meant lingering around the supper table to laugh, swap stories and plan the next day of fishing. They enjoyed surf fishing on our local beach, Playalinda, as well as the inlet at Port Canaveral.

 

 

 

Playalinda Beach - looking south

Playalinda Beach – looking south (Photo credit: Capt Kodak)

 

When they weren’t fishing they loved to find fresh citrus fruit the locals were selling. They would juice them and put it in the freezer. They especially enjoyed my parents lemon tree. It produced huge lemons and they would freeze the juice in ice cube trays. We were all sorry when a winter-freeze killed the tree.

 

 

 

Heading to the registers, I noticed a group of three older ladies preparing to check out. I could tell by their body language they were bickering over who was going to pay for what. I smiled as warm memories of those check out line arguments filled my mind. In my eyes, they were my mom and her two sisters each stating why they should pay. My aunt Eunice from Massachusetts frequently won by admonishing, “Don’t be silly, of course I am getting this, don’t make a scene.” It appeared the lady at the front of their group was using the same tactic.

 

 

 

I adore my mom’s family and I miss the ones who are gone. At our house, the announcement that company was coming was always joyously received. This Valentines Day I send my love to Eunice, Ray, Francis, Paul and Geroleen. I love you with all my heart.

 

 

 

Family Photo copy

 

 

 

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Free-Wheeling Days

31 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Onisha

 My husband and I were reminiscing this week about used Coke bottles and the part they played in teaching us that money had to be earned. If you are old enough you will remember that each soda bottle required that a 2¢ deposit be paid. Just like today some people were too lazy to properly dispose of the empty bottles. Often they were flung out car windows, dropped by walkers or cyclist. Their trash became our big time treasure. I can still remember how dirty and disgusting some of them were. Smokers used them for cigarette butts.

 If we had a craving for chocolate or other sweets we hit the streets. No we didn’t mug anyone, we scavenged for empty soda bottles. At that time you could still buy penny candy so for an hour or so of “work” we would have enough bottles to take to the store. Most stores had some sort of bin for bottle returns. We would show our bottles to the cashier, put them in the return bin and choose our treats. If we had been really lucky we would have enough for a soda too but we had to drink it in the store to save the deposit cost. Man did that soda taste good after spending time under the hot Florida sun looking for bottles. Sometimes though we had to “share”, meaning we could only afford one soda.

I can’t remember a time when my parents just handed me money for no reason. Once I was in junior high school I was given a set amount of money each week for lunch. If I wanted something my parents felt was not necessary, I saved a little bit of my lunch money until I had enough to buy it for myself. Today that sounds harsh but it wasn’t really. I learned that gratification of my wants was not instantaneous. I’m sad the state of our culture has diminished to the point that children aren’t safe to walk the streets and woods. So many lessons were learned during those freewheeling days.

What about you, did you ever collect soda bottles?

Coke bottles

You might want to check out “The Next Big Thing” at RebekahLynsKitchen. She will be talking about her upcoming book set in these same “free-wheeling” times.

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A Christmas Appointment

6 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Onisha

In 2010, we spent our first Christmas in our home in the North Carolina Mountains. We had owned the home for a couple of years but were still working and hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know our neighbors. I was excited but also anxious about leaving our life-long Florida friends as well as our church. This is an email I sent to my friends.

December 17, 2010

Yesterday was an icy day up here in the North Carolina Mountains, but by mid morning, the ice gave way to rain and washed away the snow and ice. We had received a call on Tuesday inviting us to a neighborhood Christmas Party being held Thursday night. Reluctantly we decided to attend. You know Mike and I don’t tend to be party people especially with strangers.

Parking at mountain homes is not the easiest task. The driveways tend to be long and narrow often having ditches on each side. Mike wanted to park the truck facing out so we could put in our appearance and make a quick exit. Not an easy feat under the circumstatnces but it seemed Mike managed just fine or so I thought. I opened my door and gingerly stepped down from the truck only to find something pushing against my leg.

 “Uh Oh” I muttered.

 “What’s wrong? Mike asked tensely, thinking I had managed to injure myself getting out of the truck. Well Ha! The problem this time wasn’t ME being klutzy.

 “You just ran over one of these people’s shrubs.” Did I mention this was a beautifully landscaped driveway? In our quest for a quick get away parking place, we failed to notice the three-foot shrubs.

 “Oh man” Mike mumbled, getting back into the truck. I stood behind to guide. Him. As he pulled away from the shrub, there was an ominous screeching of the shrub running along the bottom edge of the truck. I walked over and checked out the damage.

  “The shrub seems to be fine,” I told Mike. “Hope the truck is ok.”

As we walked up the drive, I was thinking, well one strike against this evening being a success.

  The door was opened by Pat, the smiling, white haired owner. We told her our names and she just beamed.

 “I’m so glad you could make it she said then turned to a group sitting in the formal dining room and called, “hey everyone, this is Mike and Onisha and I am so glad they came.” She proceeded to introduce us to the three couples at the table, then led us to the kitchen to put out the dish I had brought and help us get loaded up on finger foods.

 For me, trying to decide whom to sit with at a party of strangers is traumatic. I mean, how do you know where to sit? Pat took care of that by announcing to the group in the dining room, “these seats are saved for Mike and Onisha” God truly knows our fears and literally holds our hands.

  We were chatting with the other three couples, beginning to relax when Pat announced that everyone should come sit in the living room so that the group could introduce themselves again and tell a little about themselves. Mike and I moved our chairs into the living room, looking forward to getting to know these people but nervous about our turn to share. It’s not like we had exciting lives.

 The first couple told how they came to live in Franklin, and then Sue opened her heart, telling how she had strayed from fellowship with God before they moved into their home. One day she was out and drove past a church. God spoke to her heart and right then and told her to visit that church when they were settled in their home. It was a wonderful testimony.

 Then the next couple spoke telling how God had blessed them and drew them to this community, and then the next one, and on until each had spoken. They all had a leading from the Lord to settle here. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

 Then it was our turn. I wish I could say that we said something spiritual and wise, but I was so blown away, I could just get out a short bio. Inside, our hearts were praising God for his goodness and amazing provision.

 Pat’s husband finished the group telling how God had worked in their lives and then he suggested we end in prayer and asked Opal if she would mind standing in the middle of the circle. Opal had recently lost her husband and was soon leaving for the winter. As we joined hands to pray, it was all I could do to not start shouting. Opal wasn’t sitting in a chair and we didn’t have our hands on her but it was the same spirit of our Sunday School class in Florida when one of us  “got the chair.”

 As the prayer ended, Mike and I looked at each other and grinned.

“That was awesome’ we said to each other. As we stood talking to one of the couples, my eyes were tearing. Not only had God brought us to a new place he brought us to a new group of friends who love the Lord.

 We started the evening looking for a quick exit. How many times have we missed God’s Divine Appointments, as my friend Wanda would say, because we are looking for a way out, instead of a way in?

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Kathy

29 Nov

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Originally I planned to write about the good aspects of aging. I was inspired after a relaxing visit with my friend DiVoran. Then as often happens to me, my mind turned in a new direction. I want to tell you about someone named Kathy.

In the early eighties I was working as a unit secretary at our local hospital. One of my duties was to answer the intercom system when a patient would press the call button. Kathy was frequently in and out of the hospital for tests and pain management. If I remember correctly she was in her late thirties. She was a very humble person and instead of demanding medication she would say, “I hurt real bad”. Kathy had been subjected to a myriad of diagnostic tests but no actual diagnosis was made. Often the staff, myself included, would shake their heads never sure if she had a very low pain tolerance or just liked pain meds.

One of the diseases for which Kathy was tested  was Lupus. She had many symptoms and especially the pain but all the tests were negative. I suspect what Kathy suffered from was Fibromyalgia. At the time Kathy was ill I am not even sure Fibro had been recognized as a legitimate medical condition much less any treatment plans or support groups.

Years have passed since that time and on the days I am dealing with my own health issues, I sometimes hear Kathy’s voice in my mind, “I hurt real bad” and my heart says forgive me, Kathy I just didn’t understand and I whisper to myself, “I hurt real bad too.”

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Circles

23 Nov

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

“Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, Lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky”

My family as far back as I can remember loved to sing hymns and this one was sung frequently. As a child I didn’t understand the point but last Sunday, watching my youngest grandchild’s baptism, my

heart-felt the circle of faith being completed for yet another generation. It was a wonderful and emotional. One circle was complete but soon these children will begin their own circle of faith.

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